The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-07-06
Washington Letter.
rom our Regular Correspondent.

lETOIn our heRtlldT correspondents
WASHINGTON, July End, 1887.
June Both being the end of the
fiscal year, there is now much fear
among many of the Department
clerks as a reduced legislative ap-
preparation bill makes necessary a
corresponding reduction in the cler-
zeal force of the Government, and it
is certain that shower of official
heads will fall in the departmental
basket. For this reason not
a few clerks have deferred taking
their usual leave, not wishing to be
too far away from their influential
friends on this dread day. At this
time, too, the presence OF an unu-
sual large number of Congressman
in the city is due to a desire to pro-
tect their proteges.
One day this week the Depart
ment of Justice was draped in
mourning in memory of James
Speed, Attorney General in Presi-
dent Lincoln's Cabinet. Mr.. Speed
was a steadfast Republican until
1884, when he repented of his evil
political associations and redeemed
himself by enlisting in the columns
of Cleveland and Hendricks.
If there had been a few thousand
such women on the Union side as
she of whom 1 now write, the Civil
war would not have lasted two
years. This lady, Mrs. Brown, of
West Virginia, has borne in all
twenty-five children, twenty of the
number being boys, sixteen of whom
served in the Union army, of which
but two were killed; each of the
other fourteen draws pension from
the government for disabilities re-
ceivcd in service, and the death of
two sons also entities the mother to
pension. Gen. Black says the
files of the office fail to show another
record where sixteen sons of one
father and mother served in the late
war.
The military spirit lately infused
into the citizens of Washington is
still rife, as is evidenced by the or
ganization of three or four militia
companies during the past month,
which have been formed into Ma
tionaI Guard, under the direction
and command of General Ordway,
SO that in case of foreign invasion,
or civil conflict the Capitol of the
Nation would be able to furnish
many defenders from its own FIRE
sides.
It is matter of history that the
original Grand Army of the Repub-
lie was almost disrupted, that its in
fiuence and usefulness was impaired
and that it had to be re-organized
because it's managers unwisely per
mitted it turned into partisan Re
publican machine. 1t seems that
history is about to repeat itself il
this instance, as General Fairchild
its Commander-in-chief, says thai
the financial work of the last year
was the drafting of the Department
Pension Bill. a bill has been made
out and sent to all of the posts fol
approval, those of this city having
given their endorsement, another
attempt will be made to haul mill
ions out of the Treasury. Then the
futile and battle-fag episodes con
sidered in the same connection seem
to clearly foreshadow political con
spiracy in the Grand Army. There
fore advise Democratic member
of the G. A. R. to keep a sharp ey'
on their Republican brethren al
along the line.
Report has it that there Is se1i
GUS estrangement between the Pres
ident and Secretary Endicott. Tina
, the resignation of the man of an
cient and illustrious lineage has beer
called for, and will be Forthcoming
within twenty days. 1t is though